Somebody buttonholed Tournament of Roses President Robert Cheney at a recent meeting and tried to read him the riot act about the crimes of Columbus, whose arrival in the New World 500 years ago will be celebrated in the Rose Parade. Cheney listened calmly for a few minutes, then started to bridle at the woman's broad-brushed characterization of his organization as "insensitive." "You know very little about the Tournament of Roses," Cheney said evenly.

My wife and I were among the million or so who attended the 1992 Rose Parade, which was absolutely fantastic. The Rose Parade provides a beautiful start of the New Year for millions of Americans across our country and to many people throughout the rest of the world. I think we all owe a great deal of gratitude to the men and women of the Tournament of Roses who continue this beautiful American tradition. One rarely comes across such dedication, enthusiasm, courtesy and helpfulness that the people in white (the Tournament of Roses volunteers)

My wife and I were among the million or so who attended the 1992 Rose Parade, which was absolutely fantastic. The Rose Parade provides a beautiful start of the New Year for millions of Americans across our country and to many people throughout the rest of the world. I think we all owe a great deal of gratitude to the men and women of the Tournament of Roses who continue this beautiful American tradition. One rarely comes across such dedication, enthusiasm, courtesy and helpfulness that the people in white (the Tournament of Roses volunteers)

Somebody buttonholed Tournament of Roses President Robert Cheney at a recent meeting and tried to read him the riot act about the crimes of Columbus, whose arrival in the New World 500 years ago will be celebrated in the Rose Parade. Cheney listened calmly for a few minutes, then started to bridle at the woman's broad-brushed characterization of his organization as "insensitive." "You know very little about the Tournament of Roses," Cheney said evenly.

"Entertainment on Parade" will be the theme of the 1993 Rose Parade in Pasadena. The year's theme was selected by Gary K. Hayward, named Thursday as president of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Assn. Hayward, 56, an Arcadia aerospace executive, said the theme is meant to include art, music, literature, movies, television and sports. Hayward succeeds Robert Cheney, who selected the 1992 theme, "Voyages of Discovery."

The Pasadena City Council and Tournament of Roses officials faced off in a historic get-together Tuesday, trading ideas and criticisms on the selection of the tournament's queen, the costs of maintaining the Rose Bowl and the ethnic composition of the tournament organization's leadership. Officials from the tournament organization and City Hall have met often on specific issues, but this was the first time they had met to discuss broad policy issues, officials said.

Gary K. Hayward, 56, of Arcadia has been named president of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Assn., after 30 years of membership in the organization. Hayward selected "Entertainment on Parade" as the theme of the 1993 Rose Parade as a tribute to art, music, literature, movies, television and sports, which he said allow people to escape from their daily routines. He is vice president and general manager of Tiernay Aerospace Services Inc.

They have barely finished sweeping up the dead flowers after the Tournament of Roses parade, but they already have a theme for next year's procession: "A World of Harmony." Picking the theme was the first official chore of Don W. Fedde, a furniture company head who was formally named the new president of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Assn.

An American Indian should be given the chance to ride beside Cristobol Colon, a direct descendant of Christopher Columbus, in the grand marshal's car during next January's Rose Parade, actor James Edward Olmos said Monday. Olmos made the suggestion during a Columbus Day news conference in Hollywood to announce a yearlong "Americas Before Columbus" celebration of the accomplishments of American Indians. Tournament of Roses officials expressed doubt that the suggestion would be followed.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block said Wednesday that although he was still angry, a letter of apology from Pasadena's mayor had persuaded him to let deputies provide security for the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl game. Unlike an earlier statement by the Pasadena City Council, Mayor Jess Hughston's letter "used the A-word"-- apology-- for council members' comments about alleged "neo-Nazis" and "white supremacists" within the Sheriff's Department, Block said at a news conference.

The moment of truth Tuesday came in a misty rain on the front lawn of the Tournament of Roses headquarters on Orange Grove Boulevard in Pasadena. Seven Princesses--with scrolled tiaras on their heads--stood in tight formation, tensely awaiting the announcement. Then Robert Cheney, president of the organization that puts on the annual Rose Parade, spoke the name of the young woman who will preside over the floats-and-bands gala on New Year's Day.

After a six-week absence from the City Council chambers, Councilman Isaac Richard returned Tuesday night to a cheering audience when he made pointed attacks on the Tournament of Roses, accusing it of "shameful bigotry and racism" and a history of excluding minorities and women from its "elitest, whitest" ranks.